ERASMUS+ training visit in Dzemal Bijedic University of Mostar and attendance in International UNMO Staff Week

Vice dean of VMU Agriculture Academy assoc. prof. Rasa Čingienė with the support by Erasmus+ training programme visited Dzemal Bijedic University of Mostar, Bosnia and Hercegovina.

Dzemal Bijedic University of Mostar had an the International UNMO Staff Week, which involved 20 of the European Union countries.

Participating is organized by the Dzemal Bijedic University in Mostar. The aim is to present Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) Agriculture Academy, International studies and student mobility opportunities and to attend the Sarajevo scholarship fair. During the International Mobility Day was planned to meet students intending to participate in international exchange programmes, make direct contact, present them study and mobility opportunities at VMU Agricultural Academy. During the visit there was an opportunity to get to know the laboratory equipment in the Mechanics faculty and the ongoing scientific work in the faculty of Economics.

This educational visit was helpful to improve my personal skills, competence and intensified international exchange cooperation.

International project on Advancing Sustainable Circular Bioeconomy in Central and Eastern European Countries

In the photo Work Package 4 representatives from the left: Ants-Hannes Viira (Estonian University of Life Science, Estonia), Luka Juvančič (University of Ljubljana, Slovenia), Aleksejs Nipers (Latvia University of Agriculture, Latvia), Neringa Ramanauskė (Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania), Asta Bendoraitytė (Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania).

Along with other 20 academic, scientific and state institutions from 13 countries Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) has launched an international project on Advancing Sustainable Circular Bioeconomy in Central and Eastern European Countries (BIOEASTsUP). The Project is funded by Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry, Marine, Maritime and Inland Water Research and the Bioeconomy Programme under the European Research and Innovation Programme Horizon 2020 (Call RUR-18-2019 Support for BIOEAST: Strengthening the Knowledge and Innovation Bioeconomy).

October 22-23, 2019 Kick-off meeting of the Project took place in the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation, State Research Institute in Pulawy, Poland. Lectors of the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development at the Agriculture Academy Neringa Ramanauskė and Asta Bendoraitytė presented Task 4.2 „Establish evidence base for the SRIA: procedures and deadlines“ of the Project, led by the University. Under the Task University scholars will analyse current innovation gaps and needs of the bioeconomy related research and innovation in the countries of BIOEAST macro-region. The task fulfillment is conducted by Prof. Vlada Vitunskienė.

In the photo participants of the Meeting – representatives of the Consortium partner institutions.

The visit in Warsaw University of Life Science

Assoc. professor dr. Jurgita Kulaitienė and lecturers dr. Nijolė Vaitkevičienė and dr. Dovilė Levickienė (Institute of Agriculture and Food Science, Faculty of Agronomy) visited the Warsaw University of Life Science in Poland on 7–11 October, 2019 under the Erasmus+ training and teaching exchange programs.

Warsaw University of Life Science is a long-term partner of the VMU Agriculture Academy and Faculty of Agronomy. The visit in the faculty of Human Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, Warsaw University of Life Science was serve as the continuation of long-term cooperation between the faculties of the host and home universities.

Teachers got acquainted with the Poland higher education system, had the opportunity to communicate with students and lecturers. Lectures presented non-traditional raw materials for food processing. Researchers acquired knowledge and competence in area of modern analytical methods which are used to assess the quality of the raw materials.

The visit has given an opportunity for exchanging the ideas on future education and research cooperation’s, improving the academic relations between relevant institutions of both universities in the academic and scientific field.

Presentation of study opportunities at VMU the Agricultural Academy to Kazakhstan’s audience (Kazakhstan, Almata)

Vice deans responsible for studies of VMU Agriculture Academy assoc. prof. A. Adamavičienė (Faculty of Agronomy) and lect. A. Stiklienė (Faculty of Forest Sciences and Ecology) with the financial support of the project “Raising the Awareness and Prestige of Lithuanian Higher Education Institutions in Kazakhstan, Promoting Studies in Lithuania” NR. 09.3.1-ESFA-V-709-01-0001 attended „International Education fair 2019“ which was held on 11–12 October, 2019 in Kazakhstan, Almata. During this education fair the opportunities of Bachelor and Master studies at Agriculture Academy were presented to the Kazakhstan’s audience.

A. Adamavičienė and A. Stiklienė had meetings with representatives of universities administration at Eurasian Technological University (ETU) and Kazakh National Agrarian University (KazNAU) also. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between VMU Agriculture Academy and Eurasian Technological University was singed and stamped. During the meetings it was discussed about Credit Mobility under Erasmus +, joint programs, double degree programs.

Visit to knowledge day and brokerage event „Horizon 2020 – Science with and for Society 2020“

Lecturer dr. Rasa Pranskūnienė from Bioeconomy Development Faculty, Business and Rural Development Research Institute and the Head of Agriculture Academy Museum has visited knowledge day and brokerage event „Horizon 2020 – Science with and for Society 2020“ in Warsaw, Poland (on the 14th and the 15th of October). More than 200 participants from 33 countries gathered in Warsaw, Copernicus Science Centre to discuss and exchange ideas. Event was organized by SiS.net, the international network of National Contact Points (NCPs) in the field of Science with and for Society in Horizon 2020 in cooperation with the European Commission. This international knowledge day event highlighted topics covered within the 2020 calls for proposals in Science with and for Society (SwafS) programme of Horizon 2020. Participants had the possibility to join in a brokerage event, which was of particular interest and relevance to members of the Science with and for Society research community who are looking for networking and funding opportunities within Horizon 2020. The matchmaking event gave participants the opportunity to join pre-arranged meetings with other participants in order to identify possible collaborators and to facilitate the setup of SwafS project consortia. The matchmaking session was preceded by an information session, which focused on the policy context, funding opportunities and the open call for proposals. This info session brought valuable insights for the proposal preparation, adding important background information to compliment the bilateral meetings on the second day of the event.

VMU Agriculture Academy representatives attended education fairs in Kazakhstan

Vice deans of VMU Agriculture Academy assoc. prof. Tatjana Sankauskenė and assoc. prof. Edvardas Vaiciukevičius with the financial support of the project “Raising the Awareness and Prestige of Lithuanian Higher Education Institutions in Kazakhstan, Promoting Studies in Lithuania” NR. 09.3.1-ESFA-V-709-01-0001 attended education fairs in Kazakhstan. On the 5th and the 6th of October they represented the Agriculture Academy in the Congress Center of Nur-Sultan and on the 8th and the 9th of October in Rixos Khadisha Shymkent.

During the visit in Kazakhstan, Tatjana and Edvardas presented not only the opportunities of studying in the Agriculture Academy for young people of Kazakhstan, but also they had meetings with the top managers of local universities and the representatives of their international departments. They discussed about the establishment of cooperation between universities in the field of academic mobility of students and teachers, attracting foreign scientists for guest lectures, the development of joint educational programs and research.

At Polish Hydropower Conference 2019

On 9-10 October 2019 prof. Petras Punys, dr. Egidijus Kasiulis, MSc Linas Šilinis and PhD student Linas Jurevičius from Institute of Water Resources Engineering together with assoc. prof. Algirdas Radzevičius from Institute of Hydraulic Engineering participated in 9th Polish Hydropower Conference HYDROFORUM 2019. Assoc. prof. Algirdas Radzevičius presented first LIFE NEXUS project results from Lithuania, Poland and Spain, concerning the web-based atlas of micro-hydro inventory in urban water networks (co-authored by prof. Petras Punys). Dr. Egidijus Kasiulis presented the issues that are leading dam removal processes across Europe and the Baltic States (co-authored by MSc Linas Šilinis). PhD student Linas Jurevičius presented first findings of his PhD thesis concerning optimal operation of large hydropower (Kaunas hydropower plant) reservoir. The conference finished with study tour around biggest hydropower plant in Poland – Solina hydropower plant (installed capacity of 200 MW), which operates as mixed pumped storage plant. Two turbines at this plant are installed only to produce electricity while the other two have ability also to reverse flow to upper reservoir.

Presentation of scientific research results in the international scientific conference in Lisbon

Researchers of the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development, Research Institute for Bioeconomy professor V. Vitunskienė, associate professor D. Makutėnienė, lector N. Ramanauskė and PhD student E. Besusparienė participated in the 29^thEurasia Business and Economics Society (EBES) international scientific conference, which was held on 10–12 October, 2019 in Portugal, Lisbon. It was attended by scientists from 52 countries (Bulgaria, Denmark, India, Indonesia, Poland, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, etc.), who presented their research results in the fields of Accounting, Audit, Banking, Investment, Marketing, Growth and Development, Political Economy, Public Economics, etc.

Scholarsof the Research Institute for Bioeconomy made presentations on bioeconomy development issues. The presentation by prof. V. Vitunskienė was ,,Spatial Concentration of Biomass Production Activities in the European Union“, assoc. prof. D. Makutėnienė presented ,,The Impact of Agriculture on the Natural Environment in Terms of Resource Use and GHG Emissions“, lect. N. Ramanauskė presented the paper prepared together with prof. V. Vitunskienė ,,Spatio-Temporal Assessment of Biomass Self-Sufficiency in the European Union“. PhD student E. Besusparienė presented the results of the empirical research from the part of the dissertation devoted to the modelling of fertilizer tax and made presentation ,,The Assessment of Factors Affecting Fertilizer Use on Family Farms in Lithuania”.

Participation in the conference was financed by the Research Council of Lithuania from European Social Fund under the Operational Programme for EU Structural Funds Investments for 2014–2020, by the Faculty of Bioeconomy Development and by EU Erasmus+ Programme. PhD student participation in the conference funded by the Research Council of Lithuania under the support for PhD student academic travel.

Teaching visit in the Palermo University by “Erasmus+” teaching mobility program

Professor Eglė Jotautienė and assoc. professor Antanas Juostas from Institute of Agricultural Engineering and Safety visited the University of Palermo (UNIPA) the Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences (SAAF) by “Erasmus+” teaching mobility program (Staff Mobility for Teaching). Universities has close collaboration in ERASMUS+ visits exchange and participation at International Conferences. We are very thankfull to Erasmus+ Department coordinator Dr. Antonio Comparetti from Palermo University for a smooth and fruitfull organization of the visit.

The University of Palermo (UNIPA) is an acknowledged public academic institution in Central-Western Sicily. Its 5 Schools (Medicine and Surgery; Polytechnic; Law, Social and Economic Sciences; Base and Applied Sciences; Humanities and Cultural Heritage) and 20 Departments cover the most important domains of scientific and technological knowledge. The University offers about 122 (1st and 2nd cycle) degree study programs, 44 Specialisation Schools and 23 PhD programs.

Eglė Jotautienė presented the study programs and mobility of ERASMUS+ possibilities in Vytautas Magnus University of Agriculture Academy and lectures on topic „Innovative technologies in agrimachinery”. Antanas Juostas presented the lectures on topic “Automatic steering and telemetry systems in agriculture: GPS fundamentals, correction signals, driving modes, Telemetry systems in agriculture and yield mapping handling and data management”. Bachelor and master degree students paid big interest on the topics presented during the lectures.

During Palermo University visiting time were taken a possibility to participate in seminars and lectures held by Palermo University lectors. Such a lectures has given an opportunity to think about new organization style of the studies, various teaching methods, communication culture and altitude between teachers and students. The visit has given an opportunity for exchanging the ideas

on future education and research cooperation’s, improving the academic relations between departments and establishing the background for future collaboration in the area of the research, common projects, student’s mobility and enhancing the studies direction towards the research results utilization to business.

Eglė Jotautienė, Antanas Juostas

Visit to University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, AUSTRIA

Kęstutis Navickas professor of the Institute of Energy and Biotechnology Engineering institute (faculty of Agricultural Engineering) visited Institute for Environmental Biotechnology of the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (Austria) in the period of 07-11.10.2019.

During this visit K. Navickas participated on a joint IEA Bioenergy Task 43 and BioEast Initiative Workshop „Bio-hubs as keys to successful biomass supply integration for bioenergy within the bioeconomy“. Discussions with bioenergy experts about sustainable and reliable biomass supply in a form of bio-hubs for bioenergy within the broader scope of bioeconomy and mobilizing sustainable biomass supply and increased value added along the value chain. BioEast Initiative foresee that the gathered knowledge and shared experience will contribute to the improvement of sustainable biomass mobilisation for energy purposes, notably in the BioEast macro-region.